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Case management: effects of improved risk and value information
William G Weissert1, Richard A Hirth, Michael E Chernew
1Department of Political Science, Florida State University, 234 Bellamy Hall, Tallahassee, FL 32306-2230, USA. wweisser@fsu.edu
The Gerontologist
|January 6, 2004
Summary
Providing case managers with patient risk and benefit data reduced care plan costs. This information helps target long-term care services more effectively for better outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Gerontology
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Effective resource allocation is crucial in long-term care systems.
- Case managers play a vital role in coordinating patient services.
- Identifying patients who benefit most from home care is essential for efficient service delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of providing case managers with patient risk and potential benefit information on resource utilization.
- To assess how this information influences the development of care plans and associated costs.
Main Methods:
- Randomized controlled trial involving 24 case managers in the Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS).
- Treatment group received patient assessments, risk estimates, and potential benefit data; control group received only assessments.
- Care plan costs were calculated based on prescribed services and standard costs.
Main Results:
- Care plans developed by the treatment group were, on average, less costly than those of the control group.
- Treatment group costs correlated with estimated patient risks, while control group costs did not.
- This suggests improved targeting of services in the treatment group.
Conclusions:
- Information on patient risk and potential benefit can enhance the targeting of services for long-term care clients.
- Further prospective studies are needed to confirm improved clinical and economic outcomes.
- This approach holds promise for optimizing resource allocation in long-term care settings.